Dennis Quaid honored by University of Houston

Andrew Dansb, Houston Chronicle

By Andrew Dansby

Updated 8:39 pm, Friday, May 10, 2013

Dennis Quaid was among the recipients of the President's Medallion at the University of Houston Friday during spring commencement ceremonies. He is pictured with UH president Renu Khator, right.
Photo: Thomas Campbell

Dennis Quaid was among the recipients of the President's Medallion...

Dennis Quaid was in Houston Friday to receive the President's Medallion at the University of Houston during spring commencement ceremonies.
Photo: Thomas Campbell

Dennis Quaid was in Houston Friday to receive the President's...

Dennis Quaid was in Houston Friday.
Photo: Thomas Campbell

Dennis Quaid was in Houston Friday.

Dennis Quaid and Kim Dickens star in "At Any Price."

Photo: Sony Pictures Classics, Owner/Photographer

Dennis Quaid and Kim Dickens star in "At Any Price."

Left to Right: Zac Efron as Dean, Dennis Quaid as Henry and Kim Dickens as Irene in, "At Any Price."

Photo: Matt Dinerstein, Sony Pictures Classics

Left to Right: Zac Efron as Dean, Dennis Quaid as Henry and Kim...

Dennis Quaid was among the recipients of the President's Medallion at the University of Houston Friday during spring commencement ceremonies.
Photo: Thomas Campbell

Dennis Quaid was among the recipients of the President's Medallion...

Dennis Quaid is on the show "Vegas," which is on the bubble.

Dennis Quaid is on the show "Vegas," which is on the bubble.

Sheriff Ralph Lamb (Dennis Quaid) considers his options following an explosive incident at The Tumbleweed Club, on VEGAS

Photo: CBS

Sheriff Ralph Lamb (Dennis Quaid) considers his options following...

THE BIG EASY: 25 years later, the ONLY thing anybody remembers from this movie, with Ellen Barkin and Dennis Quaid, is the bedroom scene.

THE BIG EASY: 25 years later, the ONLY thing anybody remembers...

This image released by Relativity Media shows Greg Kinnear, left, and Dennis Quaid in a scene from "Movie 43." (AP Photo/Relativity Media)

This image released by Relativity Media shows Greg Kinnear, left,...

Dennis Quaid: Bellaire High School, 1972

Photo: Ancestry.com

Dennis Quaid: Bellaire High School, 1972

Actor Dennis Quaid poses for a photo to promote the new movie "At Any Price." (AP)

A Bellaire native, Quaid studied under Cecil Pickett and Sidney Berger at UH in the 1970s before beginning his successful acting career.

While here, he visited the university's theater department and praised its students. "They're here to learn a craft. It's so important. So many young people just want to be a star now. A craft is what carries you through."

He credited UH with providing the foundation for his career, calling Berger and Pickett "mentors," while recalling their toughness as teachers. "They gave me huge nuggets of wisdom," Quaid said. "This was a great place. To learn your craft in a situation like this university, you have many, many, many chances to fail. To fall flat on your face."

Quaid's Houston stop followed three weeks of promotion for his new film "At Any Price," which opened Friday to rave reviews. His TV series "Vegas" also wrapped up its first season Friday night.